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VIDEO: Double Purple Heart recipient leads Richmond Hill parade

Jamie Parker/Bryan County Now Students at St. Anne's Catholic Church's preschool in Richmond Hill marched in the school's 18th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade Wednesday, led by Grand Marshal Army Staff Sgt. Chris Scholz.

Jamie Parker/Bryan County Now Ava Scholz dances a bit of a jig ahead of her father Army Staff Sgt. Chris Scholz (on crutches) as he leads the St. Anne's Catholic Church Preschool St. Patrick's Day Parade Wednesday.

Jamie Parker/Bryan County Now Students from St. Anne's Catholic Church Preschool in Richmond Hill line up for their St. Patrick's Day Parade Wednesday.

Jamie Parker/Bryan County Now Grand Marshal of the St. Patrick's Day Day Parade at the St. Anne's Catholic Church Preschool in Richmond Hill was Army Staff Sgt. Chris Scholz (left), seen here with his wife Tyran and daughter Ava.

As a soldier, Christopher Scholz has probably done a little marching. He may also be somewhat familiar with parades.

However, the 26-year-old staff sergeant with Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment at Fort Stewart had most likely never marched at the front of a parade on crutches before Wednesday morning.

When the students at St. Anne Catholic Church Preschool in Richmond Hill lined up for their annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Scholz, a two-time recipient of the Purple Heart, was at the front as the grand marshal.

Wearing a green hat and sash, Scholz, not quite two months after being wounded while on a mission in Kabul province in Afghanistan, led the students and local dignitaries four times around the school.

Being named grand marshal was an honor Scholz didn’t take lightly.

“It was a great privilege,” he said. “I led the way on crutches. It was fun.”

Past grand marshals have included public servants from Richmond Hill and Bryan County.

“We try to select someone who serves the community,” the Rev. Joseph Smith said. “In the past we have had the sheriff, the fire chief, people like that or somebody who does a lot of volunteer work. This year we decided to choose someone who serves a little differently.”

One of the children marching in the parade was Scholz’s daughter, Ava.

“It is always fun to do something fun with her and kids. Ava’s teacher asked two weeks ago if I would like to be the grand marshal. It was a privilege to even be asked, just to know that the church supports us. I feel like people support us still, the soldiers, it is a good feeling,” he said.

Scholz’s wife, Taryn, was equally pleased.

“It is great seeing him lead his daughter and her classmates from school. I am so proud of him. It has been scary, but I am just grateful, blessed and very proud. Proud of what he has done for our family, this country for going on nine years in, I am very proud of him,” she said.

Prior to going to Afghanistan, Scholz was deployed three times to Iraq. His first Purple Heart came as a result of wounds he suffered there.

“The first one (Purple Heart), I was in Iraq during the surge of 2007 and I got blown up by a grenade. It was mostly shrapnel from the waist down; I caught a couple of pieces in my upper body,” he said

Despite his years of service, as well as being wounded twice, Scholz said he is going to stay in the Army “as long as they will keep me.”

“I plan on re-enlisting. Whether they send me back to Afghanistan or not is up to them,” he said. “It is not really like important (that I go back). I love doing what I do. You see so many different types of people. I like training soldiers. I know my job and for them to be trained by me, they will know their job. It is just a good feeling to know you train soldiers and they do their jobs the best they can.”

After the parade Scholz said he was thankful for everyone’s support.

“I really appreciate it, and so does the rest of the military,” he said.

ON THE WEB

Go to savannahnow.com to see Staff. Sgt. Chris Scholz lead the St. Anne Catholic Church Preschool St. Patrick’s Day Parade.